Object Image

The Rape of Ganymede (Rubens)

The Rape of Ganymede is a painting by the Flemish Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens produced between 1636 and 1638 painting for the Spanish king Philip IV of Spain's hunting lodge. The painting is based on a story recounted in classical poet Ovid's Metamorphoses (X, 155-161). It depicts the moment when the Roman supreme god Jupiter disguised as an eagle catches the young shepherd Ganymede and lifts him into the air. It is in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The dramatic scene gave Rubens ample opportunity to show his skill in depicting a lively scene and the nude.

The story The painting depicts the abduction of the beautiful Trojan youth, Ganymede, by Jupiter who appears in...

1636 and 1638
Oil on canvas
181.0 x 87.3cm
P001679
Image and text courtesy of Wikipedia, 2023

Where you'll find this

Museo Nacional del Prado
Permanent collection